What's Your Language?

Monday, September 10, 2012

The Atlanta Braves completed a three-game sweep with a 3-2 victory Sunday afternoon at Citi Field.

Chipper Jones, in his farewell to Flushing, walked on four pitches as a pinch hitter in the ninth and was replaced by a pinch runner. He received a standing ovation as he returned to the dugout, capping warm treatment by Mets fans for the most part all weekend.

Chipper ultimately went 0-for-7 with two walks in his final series in Flushing.

Writes columnist Kevin Kernan in the Post:

Showing their class, the 23,161 fans gave Jones a warm send-off, a standing ovation, mixed with some diehard boos, as he came to the plate, and then another standing ovation as he left the field. Three steps from the dugout, Jones took off his helmet to acknowledge the cheers. It was a wonderful baseball moment. “It was cool,’’ Jones said. “I heard a bunch of boos in there, spattered, but for once the cheers outnumbered the boos.’’ Jones also brought out the lineup card, snapped a picture with the umpires, and was cheered.“You can’t say enough about the fans in New York this year, they’ve been awfully supportive, both in person, out on the field, on Twitter,’’ Chipper explained. “The Mets organization rolled out the red carpet all weekend and has been extremely nice. I’m very appreciative.’’

Said David Wright, who ended up making the game's final out: "As much as the fans like to get on him over the years, I think they respect his body of work and respect his career and the way he's carried himself. And what he's been able to do on the field is obviously a nice cap to a Hall of Fame career.

"You think of Chipper Jones, you think of the Braves. Growing up, I had TBS just like everybody else. Braves games were always on. I think that it goes hand in hand. You think of Chipper Jones, you think of the Atlanta Braves. I think he's represented the organization tremendously. I think the next stop will hopefully be the Hall of Fame."

Terry Collins, without elaborating, said he will shake up the team's pregame routine today, hoping to spark some offense.

The Mets will open the 2013 season at home against San Diego, a major league source told ESPNNewYork.com. The first road trip will take the Mets to Colorado and an interleague series at Minnesota. The Mets face the American League Central in addition to the Yankees next year. San Diego opened Citi Field with the Mets on April 13, 2009.

Matt Harvey's final start of the season will be Sept. 18 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Jenrry Mejia will enter the rotation the following day.

The Brooklyn Cyclones received a Eudy Pina solo homer but no other scoring and lost to Hudson Valley, 8-1, Sunday. The teams play a winner-take-all Game 3 in the opening round of the New York-Penn League playoffs tonight at Hudson Valley.